Upgrade denied, race plans, and scrambling…

We got back form AZ last sunday night due to a gnarly traffic jam on the I-10 coming home.  It seems like I have been going nonstop since we got back home and that’s because I have been.  Monday I was up early to knock out work, upack & pack for a week of work up in San Jose.  Some time during the day I managed to get out for and easy spin and also applied for my Cat 4 upgrade.

flying to san jose tuesday morning

Long story short the upgrade was denied and I kind of knew it would be.  I had only done 5 of the required 10 cat 5 mass starts.  All you need is 10 starts (and finishes) to upgrade.  Placing doesn’t matter.  I was just hoping I could leverage my Cat 1 licenses for both MTB and CX, but that’s not that case.  I was bummed because I want to upgrade quick, but not mad, and I totally understand.  They want to make sure the people are learning to race, and race safe in the 5′s before moving up.

The only reason I am bummed is because I had already signed up tour de murrietta (3/9-11) and the San Dimas Stage Race (3/16-18) as a 4.  I only did this because both races sell out fast for both category 4 & 5 and changing categories once the race sold out requires being on the waiting list with no guarantee you’ll get in.  So all of this just means I have/had 3 weeks to get 5 more starts…. not easy but it will happen.

so my race schedule for next couple weeks is going to be nuts, but I think it will help me get going and building to Murrietta & San Dimas.

• 2/19 (this past sunday) Now Energy Bar Crit – 2 races – cat 5 & 30 + cat 4/5
• 2/26 Dare to Race Grand Prix – 2 races – cat5 & 30+ cat 4/5
• Tucson Bicycle Classic – 3 races (only mass starts count) – TT, Road Race, Circuit Race – Cat 5

So if all goes well that will give 11 starts and I will get my upgrade the week of Tour de Murrietta, but also means that starting back with the weekend of Boulevard & Red Trolley (2/4-5) I will be racing 8 weeks in a row.  On paper it seems/sounds like a lot but that’s one of the things I like about racing bikes.  You can actually race yourself into top form and get stronger by the week it you play things right… and that’s what I want to do.

flying home friday night

I got back in town from San Jose late Friday night and it was straight to bed and then up early for a 4 hour ride with the team.  Big crew, big climbs, and good times.  I had so so legs after not riding since Tuesday morning (super early trainer sesh before flying).  Then we headed downtown for Pete’s bowling partying, had some good food and beers, and got home around 10pm.  I had to wake up just before 4am to get up to Carson to race.  The cat 5 race was at 7am, was sold out so I had to get on the waiting list… Luckily I got in and ended up having two really good races.  I am finally learning how to race crits and being some what smarter.

new race shades

Race #1 – Cat 5

The race started pretty mellow and nobody was making any moves.  So I sat in a bit, covered attacks, threw a couple of attacks and then with just over 4 laps to go a team tried to attack and they only lasted half a lap so as soon as we brought them back I made my move.  Shockingly nobody responded.  So with 3.5 laps to go I had a gap and knew it was my chance.  I had wanted to wait until 2.5 to go but that didn’t happen.  I just put my head down and extended my gap.  I was able to get a way and stay away for the win!

between races (90min) I rode over to the starbucks in compton for a triple americano and some food.

Race #2 – 30+ cat 4/5

Another sold out race of 75 guys on the line and I was a couple of rows deep.  I was still feeling the first race a bit so I was planning on sitting in quite a bit and just seeing what would happen in the final laps but…. after a couple of laps and after an attack another guy attacked and he looked solid so i went him  why not? . we were off the front for a lap and then he was fading and I was doing all the work so I resigned to letting the group catch us until a guy bridged up to me and told me to get on.  This guy was big and could hammer.

I jumped on his wheel and we kept the gap.  there was still 20 minutes of racing left and a lot of laps.  on the next prime lap two guys bridged to us, one just to get the prime and the other stuck with us.  The 2 of us continued to work together and somehow we were keeping the gap.  With about 8 laps to go I was thinking the catch was going to come because out of the 3 of us in the break only 2 of us were willing to work.  The other guy I think wanted to stall as he had a lot of teammates chasing us down.  Then Brad bridged up to us and it motivated me.  With 3 guys willing to hammer I thought it may be possible to stay away.

So we kept taking turns at the front, but still with just 3 of us doing the to work for 4 the group was bringing us back.  With 3 to go i thought we may get caught so up the incline before the turn into the start finish I got back on the front with no plans of leaving.  I know it wasn’t best strategy if i wanted to win the race, but I would rather take 4th and have the break stay away than get caught.  So i was on the front for the final two laps, riding as hard as I could, and actually extended our gap, we weren’t getting caught.

going into the final turn the guy who didn’t want to work came around and this is what i wanted.  I was second wheel with another guy behind me, brad sat up to take 4th.  then it was time to sprint.  I was able to hang on for a very close second and was definitely happy.  the guy who won race was smarter but I’ll take the hard effort and a 2nd place in race #2 on the day.  It was fun being in the break 5 minutes into the race and making is stick until the end.

my winnings

my reward.  The Road IPA at Pizza Port

so that’s it.  more work, training, and racing on tap for me in the coming weeks.